Improvement in vapor baths



N-FETERS, PHUYO-LWMIGRAFHERy WASHINGTON. D. C.4

' UNITED STATES 'l PATENT OFFICE.

SARAH E. PAYSONOF PETERBOROUGHpNEW HAMPSHIRE.

IMPROVEMENT iN vAPoR BA1-Hs.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 36,856, dated November 4, 1862.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SARAH E. PAYsoN, of Peterborough, in the county of Hillsborough and State of New Hampshire, have invented a new and useful Apparatus for Converting a Bed into a Vapor Bath; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a front view of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the saine at right angles to Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the boiler and its case in the plane indicated by the line m x in Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspending parts in the several gures.

The object of my invention is twofold-viz., rst, to enablea vapor-bath to be administered in a bed without changing the Vposition of a sick patient, and, second, to obtain an apparatus for administering such a bath so inexa a suitable base, in which is provided suitable supports for the upper bedclothes, that when the apparatus is placed in a bed between the mattress and the upper clothes or` covering the said clothes or covering may be kept out of contact with the patient, and also prevented from interfering with the evaporation or the elimination of the vapors, and the aforesaid casingbeing furnished with suitable means of confining the said clothes or covering to its sides to make it form, incombination with the mattress, a vapor bath of convenientform and size.

To enable others to make and use umy invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

A is a flat board or base, of convenient size, having providedin it a circular recess for the reception of the bottom of an upright cylindrical case, B, of sheet metal, and having fitted to its bottom a sliding frame, C, in which are secured firmly two upright pillars or standards, D D, having broad round heads a a, for the support of the bed clothing or covering. The casing B is intended for the reception of the boiler E and the spirit or other lamp G,

which is placed under it to supply the heat necessary for the generation ofthe vapor. The lamp is fitted to a suitable seat, b b, provided for it on the bottom of the casing. The boiler E consists of a cylindrical kettle with movable cover c,for filling it, and having a broad projecting mouth-piece, d, in front and near the top,for the issue of the vapor, the said mouthpiece being fitted with a perforated plate, y, or with wire-gauze, to cause an equable or nearly equable distribution of the vapors from al1 parts of it, and the said boiler is provided at its back with a projection, c, which, as well as the mouth-piece d, rests on a metal ring, f, Whichis secured tothe interior of the casing B by arms h h, for the reception and support of the boiler, such mode of support providing for an upward circulation of the air and heated products of combustion fromfthe lamp. In the lower part of the casing B there are holes i t', for the admission of air to supply oxygen to the lamp', and the door j, which is provided in the back of the said casin g for the introduction and removal of the lamp, is perforated for the same purpose. Opposite to the proper position of the mouth-piece dthere is provided in the case B an opening, 7c, to correspond with the said mouth-piece, and this opening is fitted with an adjustable slide, Z, to regulate the issue of vapor.` The cover B of the casing B is `movable for the introduction of the boiler, and is perforated for the escape of the deoxygenated air and gaseous products of combustion from the lamp.

H H are two bars, attached at their upper and lower ends to the sides of the casing B, near the top and bottom thereof. These rods serve both as handles by which to carry and move the casing with the lamp and boiler, and

also for securing the bedclothes.

To operate the apparatus, the boiler isfilled withl water to a suitable height and the lamp lighted, and when the water is hot enough the apparatus is placed at the foot of the bed on the mattress and between the sheets or under the upper clothes or covering, with the standa ards D D toward the head and at a suitable or convenient distance from the casing. The up per clothes are then drawn over the standards and between the bars H H and the sides of the easing and tucked closely both at the foot and sides and around the shoulders of the patient, leaving only the head and face uncovered. Care must be taken not to let the clothes cover closely either the top or back of the casing. When the clothes are thus secured, they co1nbine with the mattress to form a bath, into which the Vapor issues through the perforated plate or Wire-gauze g.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-n 

